Earthquakes rally for 2-2 tie against United

Jul 26, 2009 - 5:51 AM
By GEOFF LEPPER
STATS MLS Correspondent

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) ? D.C. United coach Tom Soehn wanted no
part of another road tie, not after seeing Christian Gomez score
twice to build an early two-goal lead against the San Jose
Earthquakes on Saturday night.

"We've constantly talked about making sure we become a better
team and have the killer instinct," Soehn said. "We should have
put them away."

United (6-3-10), which had been hunting for their second road
win, dropped to third in the Eastern Conference, three points
behind Columbus and two back of Chicago. D.C. is now 1-3-6 away
from RFK Stadium.

"Maybe we thought it was going to be an easy game," United
captain Ben Olsen said. "They got tired of watching us possess
the ball, and then they got into it."

San Jose (3-10-5), which is the worst team in the Western
Conference, suffered some of its familiar defensive breakdowns
early but responded by dominating play over the final hour.

"It was all about resilience tonight," Earthquakes defender Mike
Zaher said. "We rebounded from nightmare after nightmare and
then we got a point out of it."

United broke on top after just three minutes. Chris Pontius
flicked a header into open space inside the Earthquakes' penalty
box, and Zaher collided with United forward Luciano Emilio to
concede San Jose's first penalty kick of the season.

Zaher played a part in D.C.'s 21st-minute goal as well when
Andrew Jacobson unleashed a 25-yard shot. The ball deflected off
of Zaher and died some 10 yards from the net; Gomez pounced on
the rebound for his second goal of the night and third in as
many matches.

"It's not easy, in the hole we're in (in the standings), and
then you're 2-nil down, on goals you think are a little bit
controversial," said Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop, who
disagreed with the penalty on Zaher and felt Gomez was offsides
on the second goal. "But they didn't quit."

Showing a resolve that belied their status, the Earthquakes drew
within a goal before intermission. Glen nodded on a cross from
Zaher to the right foot of Johnson, who sent a volley into the
upper netting.

Johnson, San Jose's leading scorer with seven goals, exited five
minutes later due to a sprained left shoulder, but his teammates
kept the pressure on. San Jose outshot D.C. 12-4 after the 30th
minute.

"We came out and probably played one of the worst halves I've
seen," Soehn said of the second half. "Mental errors, there were
tons of 'em. We just didn't have it. That's not a sign of a team
that wants to become better. And that's something that we still
have to work on."

The Earthquakes pulled even with a penalty kick of their own in
the 62nd minute. Rodney Wallace was called for a hand ball after
Darren Huckerby's cross eluded D.C. 'keeper Josh Wicks.

Glen, a May 26 signing making just his second start for the
Earthquakes because of visa problems and national team duty for
Trinidad and Tobago, fired the ball past a diving Wicks to knot
the score.

"If we're mid-table and we're doing OK, it's a good performance,
but obviously, with the points we need to get, it's
disappointing not to win at home," Yallop said.